Government Takes Swift Action to Strengthen Railway Safety Protocols

BULGARIA: Grozdan Karadzhov, the Minister of Transport and Communications, is pushing for immediate improvements in railway safety. This decision comes after a report from an industry working group highlighted critical areas needing attention.

During a meeting with railway stakeholders on March 6, the minister emphasized the importance of swift action. He has asked each company to submit a thorough plan detailing how they will implement these changes, along with weekly updates on their progress.

The initiative includes installing cameras in all locomotives and at every station. Additionally, enhancements to the GPS train speed control system will alert operators if trains exceed speed limits.To tackle connectivity issues, mobile network providers must boost coverage in areas where signals are weak.

A new transport safety database will be established to log incidents and help prevent future occurrences.

No trains will be allowed to operate in sections lacking functional signaling equipment.

The minister also stressed that employee safety breaks must be strictly enforced and that those responsible for safety cannot hold secondary jobs.

All modernization projects must include a thorough safety assessment. Moreover, infrastructure manager NKZI is tasked with creating a two-year strategy aimed at replacing outdated train control systems to eliminate risks of interference or data tampering.

The long-term vision includes enhancing training programs for personnel in crucial positions to ensure higher standards across the board.